Car roof



Sept. 27,l 1938.

Filed May 18, 1936 INVENTOR WILLIAM D-THOMPSON ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED sTA'rlaisl PATENT oFFlcE ciilnlgr I I signor to Chicago-Hutchins Corporation, 1 a corporation of Delaware Application May 1s, 1936, serial rtaffsogisrk 6 claims. v(o1. 10s- 5.4)

The invention relates to metallic car roofs of the type known as two-plane roofs in'which separate carlines are dispensed with and the roof is trussed by portions of the sheets lying in spaced iplanes.

tinuation in part of my former application Serial No. 760,006, led December 31, 1934. IWithertain constructions of this type, the portions of the roof lying in the two planes are spaced from each Y 10:other the greatest distance at the ridge or center of the roof and approach each other towardsthe eaves. Also, adjacent to the eaves the two planes are merged into a single plane which turns downward for attachment to the side plate of the car lgframe. A point of weakness in such structure is where the spaced planes merge into a single plane and various constructions have been devised for reinforcement at such point. It is the object of the present invention to obtain a construction` 20. which avoids this weakness and at the same time improves and cheapens the construction of the car by lowering the side walls thereof without loss in loading capacity, and the invention, therefore, consists in the construction as hereinafter 25 set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a cross-section through a car roof of my improved construction;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through a 30 portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the reinforcing member between the roofing sheets and side plate of the car;

Figure 4 is an elevation viewed from the inside 35 showing a plurality of units assembled into a single structure for shipment.

My improved roof is formed of a series of units each comprising an upper plane central portion A and lower plane opposite side portions B and B 40 which are connected to the upper plane portions by substantially vertical portions C. The portions B and B are each preferably of somewhat greater than half the width of the portion A and these portions B and B in adjacent units are 45 connected to each other by'welding. Toprovde for this and also to form a further reinforcement, the marginal portions of B and B are upwardly offset as indicated at D, terminating in downturned flanges E which are welded to each other.

50 Thus, the offset portion D not only reinforces the structure but also facilitates Welding and permits of making the lower plane panel of slightly greater width than the upper plane panel, while maintaining an equal degree of rigidity therein.

55 As previously described, the two planes are The present application forms a conspaced the greatest distance apart at the center and approach each other towardsthe eaves. Adjacent to the eavesboth plane portions are curved downward and finally mergeV into ya single plane which is attachedto the side plane of the car. With lmy improved construction I make this curved portion of a larger radius than heretofore used, carrying" the extensions of both upper and lower plane portions around the curve and substantially into the ,vertical before merging these V1053 portions intok a singleplane. This produces a lateral trussi-ng effect, as well as that in the vertical plane, andthe larger radius curves permit ofl loweringthe height 'of the side walls of the car. However, at the point of merger of the two planes gg into a single plane there wouldr still be a rweakness, which I avoid bly a reinforcement of peculiar construction.v Y i. A Y l As specifically shown, the Vradius of curvature of the upper plane extension F is approximately r ten inches in length and the radius of the lower plane extension yGr is slightly less, such as nine and eleven sixteenths inches, and having its center lowered by an inch and a quarter. This maintains the .spacing of the two curves up to the point I-I, where the direction is substantially vertical. From this point the portion G slopes outward in a portion I into the vertical plane of a portion J which is a continuation of the portion F. A reinforcing strip K is then used, this tol gether with the portion J being riveted or otherwise secured to an upwardly extending flange L of a Z-bar side plate L. This reinforcing strip is preferably a fashioned bar which extends upward above the ange L to a point H fitting aboutthe portions I and J and secured thereto, preferably by welding. AThe strip preferably tapersin cross-sectionV in an upward direction so as to v avoid too great rigidity near its upper edge which might result in localizing stresses in the roong 40 sheet at such point. Also, by thus tapering the section it is more easilyy fashioned and adds less weight to the structure. The strip may be further used'for uniting a plurality of units into a larger section and adds rigidity thereto permitting of shipment without danger of distortion.

The construction as above described, maintains full loading capacity within the car, While the Y dropping in the height of the side walls saves -in cost of construction thereof. The roof is also stronger to resist the stresses to which it is subjected, than the constructions heretofore used.

tions extending from eaves to eaves and converg ing from ridge towards eaves, said portions being connected by intermediate portions and atthe eaves having large radius curved extensions maintained in spaced relation until reaching an approximate vertical plane, said curved portions then merging into a common plane, a side plate having an upwardly extending ange to` which said single plane portion is'attached,' and areinforcing strip intermediate said ange and single plane portion, saidstrip extending upward into the spaced portions and beingfashioned to conform thereto.

3. AIn a car roof, a series of'like units eachcomprising` vertically spaced non-parallel portions extending from eaves to eaves and converging from ridge towards eaves, said1 vportions being connected by transversely extending intermediate portions and having at the eaves large radius curved extensions maintained spaced relation until reaching an approximate verticall plane and there merging into a common plane portion, and a reinforcing strip extending along the juncture between the common plane por' tion and spaced curved portions being fashioned to'conform theretoand secured by welding.

4. In a car roof, a series of like units each comprising vertically spaced non-parallel portions extending from eaves to eaves and converging from ridge towards eaves, said portions being connected by transversely extending intermee diate portions and having at the eaves large ra*- dius curved extensions maintained in vspaced relation until reaching an approximate vertical plane and there merging into a common plane portion, and a reinforcing strip extending along the juncture between the common plane portion and spaced curved portions being fashioned to conform thereto and secured by welding, said strip being tapered in cross-section towards its upper edge to avoid localization of stresses.

5. In a car roof, a series of like units each comprising vertically spaced non-parallel portions extending from eaves to eaves and converging from ridge towards eaves, said portions being connected by transversely extending intermediate portions and having at the eaves large -radius curved extensions maintained in spaced relation until reaching an approximate vertical plane and there merging into a common plane portion, and a reinforcing strip extending along the juncture between the common plane portion and spaced curved portions being fashioned to conform thereto and secured by welding, said strip being tapered infcro'ss-section towards its upper' edge to avoid localization of stresses and being of a lengthV to extendalong a plurality of units to secure and reinforce the same in a single section for shipment.

V6. The -combination with the side plates of a car body,- of a roof mounted thereon composed of unitsl each having an upper plane portion and aV lower vplane portion connected by an intermediate portionsaid upper and lower plane portions tapering toward each other from ridge toward the eaves and said lower plane portion being located in aplane which would intersect the vertical plane of the side plate ata point considerably above the upper end of said side plate and spaced therefrom by adimension at least equal v'to the vertical dimension of said side plate, and large `radius curved extensions of said upper and =lower plane portions tangent thereto and continuing in spaced relation to substantially a vertical plane and then merging into a single plane. l

WILLIAM D. THOMPSON. 

